JESSICA ZITTER, MD SPEAKS ABOUT HER MORAL QUALMS ABOUT KEEPING PEOPLE ALIVE WITH MACHINES

Dr. Zitter is interviewed by Amy Tobin, CEO of an organization which focuses on new ideas in Berkeley. This podcast is about the importance of considering your choices long before being admitted to the hospital with a serious illness or injury. She is a specialist in intensive care, pulmonary diseases, and palliative care. The title of the episode is: DEATH 101.

Zitter is the author of Extreme Measures a book about her work as a physician with patients who are very sick and often dying. Her argument is that we spend too much time denying death and too little accepting the inevitability of it. The result is often catastrophic suffering caused by avoidance of important conversations which should be started when a child is 18 (or earlier) and revisited throughout life.

Zitter is also featured in a 20 minute Netflix film, Extremis, which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2016 for “best short documentary”. It is worth watching.

Episode 27 (2/21/18) is 41 minutes long.

After listening to this podcast, share your impressions with your friends and loved ones. Tell them what you want in the way of aggressive treatment if you are not able make choices for yourself. Everyone is different and when a medical crisis occurs, they will have a better idea of what you want and can help you.